This document contains the agenda and discussion topics for an English literature class focusing on Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. It includes warm-up questions about fear, a reading log assignment, instructions for an analysis of "The Black Cat", and discussion prompts for "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado". Students are asked to identify mood, analyze character changes, compare stories, and identify themes. The teacher provides guidance, due dates, and reading assignments to help students understand Poe's works.

1. FEAR DISCUSSION
WARM UP – 10/22
• What are people afraid of (individually or
collectively)? Make a list.
• How do we conquer our fear? List is ok.
• Why have scary stories lasted as means of
entertainment for centuries? What about
the emotion of fear or anticipation appeals
to some people?
• Sometimes what we imagine in our head is
worse than the reality. Have you ever been
in a scary situation (haunted house, alone in
the dark) or watched a scary movie? Isn’t
the worse moment the waiting for the bad
thing to happen?

3. READING LOG
TURN IN NOTEBOOKS IF READY
DUE TOMORROW
• You should have 5 filled out
total. 10/19, 10/21, 10/23,
10/26 or 27 and 10/28
• If you are not doing Friday
for extra credit, just put an X
through it so that I know if I
should grade it.

4. CLASS
WORK/HOMEWORK
• Read “The Black Cat” in a small group –
underline and highlight characterization of
the narrator (his behavior and personality)in
one color, Pluto in another.
• Describe the narrator at the beginning of the
story.
• Describe how he changes throughout it, using
at least 5 examples from the text.
• Compare The Black Cat from “The Price” to
Pluto from “The Black Cat”

5. DO NOW
• Please turn in the packet of “The Black Cat” –
I am checking the highlighting for the
ENTIRE story.
• Make sure you have the questions attached or
on the back.
• Turn in your notebook for a TEST grade.
• Please put the pink sheet with the list of
warm ups in the front with your name on it.

6. READING LOG DUE – 10/19-10/28 (5 ENTRIES)
ALL WORK DUE TODAY
• Still missing lots of
homework from people.
• If you were absent, turn
in Notebook – you do not
want a zero for a TEST
grade.

7. GRAB A NEW READING LOG FROM THE
ORANGE TABLE
• Reading for Wednesday (Monday is Extra Credit).
• The log is for the week of 11/2 – 11/13
• Remember to use different strategies to respond every day
for the TWO WEEKS. No repeats on the whole sheet, back
and front.
• If you need a new response sheet, those are also on the
orange table.

9. • The Halloween sun isn't fully set and already the candy
wrappers blow over the leaf-strewn sidewalk. Tonight I am
a ghost, concealed and shrouded like the dead I pretend to
be. Around each wrist hangs a chain to clank as we walk.
With the sun so low in the sky the scene reminds me of
years ago, the picture before me is almost sepia toned. Only
the new-model cars give it away that this isn't nineteen
seventy something. Next to me walks the most important
vampire in the world, seven years old and she wears the
false fangs like a pro. She's a strange one though, for her it
isn't even about the chocolates and lollipops. Tonight the
world is her stage and she feeds on the drama through her
skin. She doesn't really walk either, she stalks, head high,
chin out, arms moving like she's conducting the clouds
above.

10. WARM UP: 11/10 MOOD
WHAT IS A MOOD IN A STORY? DEFINE. GIVE EXAMPLES.
FOR THE QUOTES BELOW – IDENTIFY A MOOD AND TELL ME
WHY YOU CHOSE THE ONE YOU CHOSE.
• “I can’t sleep,” she whispered, crawling into
bed with me. I woke up cold, clutching the
dress she was buried in.”
• If you are reading this, then you are
blissfully unaware of what is creeping up
behind you…”
• “If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear”
Mood is the feeling or emotion you get when
reading a certain book or a certain section.
Mood can be romantic, creepy, exciting,
sad/depressing, joyful, immature…etc.

11. • I was standing at the beginning of what looked
like an abandoned street; abandoned being an
extremely derisory term to describe this terror-
striking, nightmare of a place. The cobbled
road, which must have once been full of life
and bustling with people, was now dilapidated
and derelict with potholes dotting the entire
path and pieces of debris lay strewn across the
floor. Putrefying trees permeated either side of
the street, their emaciated, black branches
reaching towards the sky like the fingers of a
witch…”

12. THE TELL TALE HEART
• Underline or highlight examples of mood (it’s mostly going to be creepy or spooky) in
the story.
• Using at least 5 examples from the story (and I do mean the WHOLE story, not just
the beginning), write a 10 sentence analysis of the mood. Use at least one example
from the beginning, one from the middle and one towards the end.
• Choose a section/quote from the story (exact words) In the first sentence, explain the
overall mood you felt when reading this section. In the second sentence explain why
they made you fell _________. (Imagine what it would be like to be in the situation
described --- why is it creepy/gross/suspenseful?)

14. AFTER READING “CASK OF AMONTILLADO”
• Identify the theme of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story. Aim for at least 8
sentences.
• Ex: In his short story, Edgar Allan Poe focuses on the theme of
____________________.
• In your opinion, why is this theme important to learn in life. Ex: Readers need to
learn this lesson about life because ____________________________.
• Give details of how the character/reader learn this lesson. Describe the moment that
teaches this theme. Ex: The theme is learned in the story in the scene when
________________. (Describe what happens, how the characters behave, and what
you learn from their actions).